Guard Yourself

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:19-21)

Many people, including Christians, see exhortations such as the final line of this piece of Scripture as being moot. After all, if you’re a Christian, you’re worshipping the one true God, right? You’re not beholden to demonic entities, false gods, and pagan idols. You belong to Him who made you, not the many false religions of the world.

But this is a simplistic reading. Idols are more than false gods like Baal and Molech, more than demonic oppressive spirits, and more than hand-carved prayer tokens. There exists a component to idols that we don’t often consider: an idol is anything that separates you and God, something which you choose above Him, intentionally, knowingly, or otherwise.

Until recently, I didn’t agree with the definition of idols being anything other than the known pagan gods worshipped past and present. It felt demeaning to equate idolatry and frequent bad habits as being one and the same. How can bowing down at the wrong altar and spending too much time on a cell phone reflect the self-same sin?

But it’s the Truth. God is, as He says numerous times throughout Scripture, a jealous God. That which binds you to the world and not to Him is evil and sin. Thus, He hates it. How then can we go on displeasing Him as we do?

For many, it’s a case of willful ignorance. I know I’ve struggled with the idea that video games can be an idol. I knew they were time wasters, especially if they were all too lengthy, but I didn’t think of them as true separation from God. I had frequent arguments with myself, assuming that it was okay so long as I adored the Lord my God. Games weren’t keeping me out of Church or stopping me from reading the Word, I said. What’s the harm?

God knew my heart, knew it had grown cold on this matter, and revealed to me His Truth. I spent all of Saturday playing a video game, not even particularly enjoying myself, and all I gained from it was undue anger at the game and frustration at what I had done. This was not the first day in which I had dedicated far too much time to that activity. But it is, I hope, the last.

I realized, thanks to Him, that I had succumbed to an idol of my own making. I had trained my sin to be something I could live with and had not known it was what I’d been doing. Again, although I knew God and had been born again, this sin, this poison, had seeped into my life. That is the danger of the corruption we all live with and why we must be on guard at all times.

I know not what the future holds for me when it comes to these games or other, perhaps yet unknown idols and pet sins. Perhaps I can truly live up to the standard of doing all things in moderation. But if I cannot, if the good Lord asks me to cease my frivolity, please let it be so. Pray (and I do pray) that I have ears to hear and that I listen to His command.

In the same way, I hope that this post gets you thinking about your own life as newborn Christian. Are there aspects of your existence which demand more time from you than God would want? Are you addicted to technology or the people in your life? Then, as Christ says:

“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!” (Matthew 5:29-30)

God is our Father and a disciplinarian. He is the Most Wise Almighty and our King of Kings. We should pay attention to Him and listen better than we even did our own dads.

“‘I assure you,’ He said, ‘unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 18:3-4)

May we heed His words as we go about our daily lives. It is for our good and His glory. Praise be to our Sovereign Lord forever and ever. Amen.